chapter 14.4

The dimly lit room felt heavier than it should have, not because of its size, but due to the gravity of the conversation unfolding within it. Arwen took a slow, steady breath, gathering the courage to voice what had long been buried inside her. Though her gaze held uncertainty, there was a quiet determination beneath it. She locked eyes with the figure before her, as if searching for proof that what she had felt all these years was not merely an illusion.

"For years," she began, her voice soft but unwavering, "I've been haunted by the same dream. A dream that always felt too real—like someone whispering to me, guiding me toward certain paths that, in the end, led me here. I don't know if it was just coincidence or… a message from the gods."

The air in the room thickened as silence followed her words. The cloaked figure standing before them remained still, observing Arwen with an intensity that suggested he was not just listening but assessing something deeper, something unseen. Finally, with a slow nod, he broke the silence.

"Those dreams were not mere coincidence," he said, his voice calm yet imbued with a warmth that was difficult to define. "They were a calling, a signal meant only for those chosen to receive them. You, Arwen, are part of something far greater than what any kingdom could ever comprehend. You hold a place in a story that has yet to be fully revealed."

Arwen remained motionless, as if those words had placed an unbearable weight upon her shoulders. Slowly, she lifted a hand to cover her mouth, her fingers trembling slightly as tears welled up in her eyes. A single tear traced down her cheek, carrying the weight of emotions she had kept suppressed for too long.

"I always felt… different," she whispered, voice quivering. "But my mother always warned me to keep it hidden. She said the world wouldn't understand. That if they knew… they would hunt me, turn me into a tool, or worse—kill me."

From the corner of the room, Alcard, who had thus far been a silent observer, finally stepped forward. His usual stoic expression was now laced with confusion, his brows furrowed as he tried to piece together the puzzle before him. There was a sharp impatience in his tone when he finally spoke.

"Hold on a moment," he cut in. "I don't understand what's happening here. Who are you?" His piercing gaze landed on the cloaked figure. "And what does any of this have to do with Arwen?"

The figure finally turned his attention to Alcard, his lips curling into a small, knowing smile. It wasn't an expression of arrogance, but rather that of someone who had long expected such a question. With a voice calm yet weighted with authority, he spoke his name.

"My name is Reinhard."

The moment that name left his lips, the air seemed to still. Even Alcard, who rarely let anything faze him, tensed slightly. His eyes narrowed, his mind racing as if trying to recall something distant and buried.

"Reinhard…" he murmured. "That name sounds familiar."

But before Alcard could probe further, Arwen had already reacted. Her hands trembled slightly, and though her tears had stopped, her expression now held something else—a mix of awe and fear.

"Reinhard is no ordinary man," she said, her voice steady but thick with emotion. "He is one of the Jotun—beings spoken of in ancient history, said to have existed long before the rise of human civilization."

Alcard shot her a skeptical look, crossing his arms. "Jotun?" he repeated, disbelief evident in his tone. "That's just a myth. There's no proof they ever existed."

Arwen shook her head, her conviction unshaken. "No, Alcard. I know it's real because…" she hesitated for a brief moment before continuing, "I am a Life-Seer."

Another silence fell between them, heavier than the last.

Alcard's jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. "A Life-Seer?" he echoed, his voice edged with disbelief. "You can't be serious. That's just another myth, like the Jotun."

Arwen drew in a deep breath before replying, her voice resolute. "No, it's not. Since I was a child, I've been able to see things others cannot. I've felt presences that no one else could. It's as if something beyond this world has been guiding me. My mother knew what I was, and she feared for my life. She made me swear never to reveal it, because if the world discovered the truth, I would either be used as a pawn… or be eliminated."

Alcard stood silent, his gaze fixed on her. He had always been a man of logic, someone who only believed in what he could see and touch. But something in Arwen's voice—its raw honesty—made it difficult for him to dismiss her words outright.

Reinhard, who had been watching their exchange with quiet patience, finally spoke again. "She speaks the truth," he affirmed, his voice carrying the weight of countless years. "Her existence is far more significant than she realizes. This world stands on the precipice of something catastrophic, and a Life-Seer like Arwen is one of the few who can perceive the path forward."

Alcard exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face as if trying to push aside the storm of thoughts crashing in his mind. "Fine," he muttered, his voice quieter now, as if reluctantly accepting the possibility that there was more at play here than he could initially grasp. "If all of this is true… why have I never heard of it before? Why does the world seem to have forgotten the existence of Jotun and Life-Seers?"

Reinhard's eyes darkened slightly, his voice steady but carrying a somber note. "Because the world chooses to forget truths that scare them." His gaze was piercing, as if he had lived through centuries of that very reality. "Our existence is a reminder that there are forces beyond human comprehension—forces that could shift the balance of power. And those who rule would rather erase history than risk losing control."

Arwen turned to Alcard, her eyes pleading for him to understand. "Do you see now, Alcard? This is why I sought you. This is why I needed to find Reinhard. This journey was never just about reaching Edenvila—it's about something far greater. Something that's been waiting for me my entire life."

Alcard regarded her for a long moment, his mind still struggling to process everything that had just been revealed. His mission had been simple: escort Arwen to Edenvila. But now, that simple mission had unraveled into something far beyond his expectations. He had stepped into a tale that had been in motion long before he ever realized it.

Finally, with a deep breath, he squared his shoulders, his voice regaining its familiar steel. "If all of this is true, then what comes next? What do you plan to do? And how am I involved in all of this?"

Reinhard offered a knowing smile—one that carried the weight of something inevitable. "All will be revealed in time, Alcard," he said, his tone almost cryptic, as if the true answers were still too early to be spoken.

Alcard stood still, his mind whirling, knowing deep down that whatever lay ahead would change his life forever.

And for the first time in a long time, he was no longer certain if he was ready for it.

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